-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Two Russian bombers have landed at a Venezuelan airfield , from which they will carry out training flights for several days , the Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday .

Russia 's Tupolev TU-160 , pictured here in 2003 , is a long-range strategic bomber .

The Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bombers landed at Venezuela 's Libertador military airfield and `` will spend several days carrying out training flights over neutral waters , after which they will return to the base , '' Interfax reported , citing the Russian Defense Ministry .

Col. Alexander Drobyshevsky , a ministry spokesman , told Interfax that NATO fighters followed the bombers on their 13-hour flight over the Arctic Ocean and the Atlantic .

`` All flights by air force aircraft have been and are marked by strict conformity to the international rules on the use of air space over neutral waters , '' Drobyshevsky told Interfax .

The U.S. will monitor the Russian training , said Pentagon officials who asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to speak on the information .

On Monday , Russia announced it might hold joint naval maneuvers with Venezuela in the Caribbean . The declaration came in the wake of increased tension between Russia and the United States over Russia 's invasion last month of the former Soviet republic of Georgia , a U.S. ally that aspires to join NATO .

Russia on Monday denied any link between that announcement and the conflict in Georgia , although Russia has criticized U.S. support for Georgia , and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has long antagonized Washington .

Earlier this month , Chavez said Venezuela would welcome the Russian air force , according to Russian news agency Novosti .

`` If Russian long-range bombers should need to land in Venezuela , we would not object to that either . We will also welcome them , '' Chavez said on September 1 , according to Novosti .

CNN 's Mike Mount contributed to this story

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Russian bombers will use airfield for training over neutral waters , Interfax reports

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Russian Defense Ministry spokesman : NATO fighters followed bombers

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Venezuelan president had said he 'd welcome Russian air force , Novosti reports